Windows Explorer in Windows 7 keeps crashing and restarting

Anonymous
2009-11-26T02:42:50+00:00

It happens at random times...but conveniently after a Windows update. I'll be looking up a file...or trying to delete a file, then all of a sudden, i see the little progress bar thing and it's closing Explorer, then that goes away and another one shows up saying "Restarting Windows Explorer"...I've ran a few virus scans in case it's a virus...but I don't think that's the case.

Oh and I noticed that a lot of the problems reported were from people that upgraded to Windows 7...my laptop is a new computer that came pre-loaded with Windows 7.

Anyone else in my shoes? Does anyone know if Microsoft is working on this issue?

*original title - Windows Explorer in Windows 7 keeps crashing...then trying to restart...anyone else have that problem? Anyone know if Microsoft is working on an update or something to fix it?*

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-01-15T17:15:30+00:00

Just in case you haven't fixed this issue yet. I had the exact same problem and found a pretty fast and painless solution. I can't tell you why it was happening, but the fix worked. And it didn't involve disabling my video card drivers (make NO sense, doing this would pretty much make your video card useless...not an option for me when I bought a $600 video card).

Navigate to this folder (assuming your Windows is installed on your C:\ drive):

C:\Windows <- Inside this folder you should find the file "explorer.exe". Select that and press "CTRL+C" (this will copy the file, do NOT cut, just copy).

Then paste the copied file into:

C:\Windows\System32

And like magic, no more explorer crashing :). Hope that helps!

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Anonymous
2009-11-27T01:08:13+00:00

Hi SonyBoy_Fusion,Welcome to Microsoft Windows 7 Answers Forum! 

Method 1

Please check whether you face the same issue while working in the safe mode.

Step 1 Safe Mode

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. When the computer starts you will see your computer's hardware being listed. When you see this information start to gently tap the F8 key on your keyboard repeatedly until you are presented with the Windows 7 Advanced Boot Options screen.
  3. Using the arrow keys, select the Safe Mode option you want.
  4. Then press the enter key on your keyboard to boot into Windows 7 Safe Mode.
  5. When Windows starts you will be at a typical logon screen. Logon to your computer and Windows 7 will enter Safe mode.
  6. Do whatever tasks you require, and when you are done, reboot to go back into normal mode.

Steps 2. Clean Boot

If the issue existed in Safe Mode perform Clean Boot troubleshooting to find the root cause of  the issue:

Clean Boot Troubleshooting:

  1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

   User Account Control permission.

   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the

   password, Or click Continue.

  1. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
  2. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup items check box.
  3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  4. Click OK.
  5. When you are prompted, click Restart.
  6. After the computer starts, check whether the problem is resolved.

If the issue is resolved check which third party is causing the problem, referring the link given below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

  1. Also you need to uninstall and reinstall the problem software on your computer.

Reset the computer to start as usual  

  1. After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual:

Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. 

  1. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.  
  2. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

**Method 2.**I would also recommend you to run online Virus Scan to remove any infections, if present.

Follow the link below to run the free online scan:

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

The following thread discusses about removing viruses and malware online:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistasecurity/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42

Hope it helps. 

Thanks and Regards:

**Shekhar S - Microsoft Support.**Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum

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121 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-06-04T04:29:08+00:00

    I have been having the same issue, but copying the explorer.exe file to the systems 32 folder didn't help. Here is the log file, anyone helping me out would be amazing. Thanks guys.

    Faulting application name: explorer.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16768, time stamp: 0x4d6878c3

    Faulting module name: Mpeg2DecFilter.ax_unloaded, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x4411e810

    Exception code: 0xc0000005

    Fault offset: 0x0955ceb0

    Faulting process id: 0x11f0

    Faulting application start time: 0x01cc20cdfc9fb3b9

    Faulting application path: C:\Windows\explorer.exe

    Faulting module path: Mpeg2DecFilter.ax

    Report Id: d0ac84a4-8cc7-11e0-a053-f7f6bee11142

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-05-24T05:31:54+00:00

    This was EXACTLY what was happening to me. NO VIRUSES OR MALWARE, just a stupid FLV file was causing the thumbnail problem. It happened immediately after when I moved it to my desktop.

    I ran security essentials and malicious removal tool and the sfc /scannow to no avail. Everything checked out fine and when I read your post it all made sense!

    I fixed the problem by running safe mode and doing the alt ctrl delete to run task manager. I then clicked on file to start a new task and clicked on browse. I went to the desktop folder and selected view all files and there it was... I highlighted it and hit the delete key as fast as I could and LUCKILY, it went to my recycling bin.

    After a few attempts of emptying the bin, it finally worked. I then went to windows/system and double clicked on explorer.exe and my desktop loaded fine with no restarting.

    Now im on normal startup and the problem is now gone for good! =]

    THANKS!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-05-13T21:18:36+00:00

    I do have an Nvidia card....I've had on all along.....I noticed my issues started after some Microsoft updates.....I have Run MANY Virus Scans....Nothing....I have tried the suggestion below about the System 32....No Go....when my Windows Explorer stops working is when I have gone into a file & for example I want to rename that file & try to use my shortcut right mouse click options OR if when in that file I try to access the FILE tab.....it then Shuts down Windows Explorer & the program I am in & I have to go back into the file & use other options to do whatever it is I'm doing!  VERY FRUSTRATING!   But my Machine is CLEAN & I feel it is something in one of the Windows 7 Updates for me anyway.

    Thanks,

    TT

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